“Many people do not understand that life, with its burdens, is a treasure. The weight of disappointment makes us close our eyes to the gift of being in the world to learn about the loving heart.”

—Harold Klemp, The Language of Soul

How do you face the challenges of life? Do you spend your time trying to anticipate and avoid the next obstacle to come, or are you a courageous spiritual explorer blazing a new trail into the adventures that await you? Every single moment is a golden opportunity to grow in your awareness of the beautiful creation that is all around you, and to accept the wonderful

gift of abundant divine love that always envelops and sustains you.

"The purpose of Eckankar is to make God an everyday reality in your life. As Soul, you have the God-knowledge within you. The teachings of ECK will awaken the knowledge and love for the divine things that are already

in your heart."

- Sri Harold Klemp, Spiritual Leader of Eckankar

Whatever your spiritual path or perspective may be, there are tools and techniques in Eckankar that can help you find your own answers to the many mysteries of life. Through simple "spiritual exercises" that anyone can do, you can open your inner

awareness of the divine, and tap into the loving guidance that walks by your side at every step. With persistence and perseverance, you can travel the road to true "Spiritual Freedom" in this very lifetime, and move beyond the drudgery of the wheel of reincarnation to explore the higher spiritual worlds. The journey is steep and difficult, yet the rewards are unimaginable.

Please come and share with a friendly group of spiritual adventurers in an open and loving discussion. And in the meantime, you can try this Spiritual Exercise of ECK to begin your own personal journey!

The Surat Technique

Sit comfortably. Put both hands in your lap, fingers interlaced with palms up, then place your attention on the Tisra Til, the Spiritual Eye.

Take five deep breaths and begin chanting the word HU, the universal name of God. For this exercise, chant it in two syllables, as H-U, and sing it in a long, drawn-out manner. After some time has elapsed, take five more deep breaths and continue softly chanting HU. Keep your attention fixed on the Tisra Til. Don't try to see anything, just hold it there.

After a while, again repeat the five deep breaths, bringing the total to fifteen. Following this, slow down your chanting until it is very, very slow. Begin to listen to what you are singing. Chant slower still, until you stop completely. Switch your attention to listening to the esoteric sounds as the word HU rolls through you. It starts vibrating like a machine. You may even shake, but don't let this frighten you.

Very soon you'll begin to hear a humming sound in the back of your head, spreading out to your body, until you become a part of the sound. Then various parts of the ECK melody will start. Sometimes it is the roaring of a waterfall. Other times it is the sound of violins or flutes.

This means you are somewhere on the far planes of the higher worlds, beyond the Fifth, or Soul, Plane, traveling in the Soul body in the realms of God."